Automatic suction-line valve



March 16 1926.

O. H. RQHRIG AUTQMATIG sUCTIoN LINE VALVE lgg 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March l1 l March 16 1926.

1,576,675 O. H. ROHRIG AUTOMATIC SUCTION LINE VALVE Filed March 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P-nl 4 Uf '2 f Q) (D 3 I r I// /I i z3 a 21/ Zyl' "5 l 0 I' 5 f a l [lll] Il /3 Z3 gwvmkoz Patented Mar. 1.6, 1926.

UNITEo STATES OLIVER H. .ROHRIQ OF DANA, WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC SUCTION -LINE VALVE.

Applicaton'led March 11, 1925. Serial No. 14,764.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, OLIvnR H.. Roi-mio, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dana, in the county of Kanawha and .State of lVest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Suction-Line Valve, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to an improved valve structure which may be entitled an automatic suction line valve, the same having been ldesigned especially for use in mine entries and rooms for permitting accumulated water to be conducted therefrom Vto a pump to be carried to an appropriate place of deposit.

Briefly described, the invention comprises branch pipes which lead from selected points to a main suction conduit connected with an appropriate suction pump. In accordance with my idea, there will be a. branch pipe leading into each room and connected with the same main suction conduit leading to steam or electrically operated suction pump.

It is on the intake end of the branch pipe the improved automatically operable valve which I have designed is mounted and the construction of this valve will become clearly apparent from the following descriptionand drawing.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part yof this application and in which like numerals are employed to `designate like parts throughout the same.;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device Vconstructed in accordance with the `present invention.

Fig.l 2 .is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. -3 is a horizontal section taken approximately upon Athe plane of the line .3-3of Fig. 2, and y Fig. -4 is a central longitudinal vertical section taken approximately upon the'plane of Ythe line H of Fig. 1.

AReferring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1 designates the socalled branch pipe which :extends .from the interior of a mine room outwardly through the exit and is adapted to be connected to a main suction line (not shown). The improved automatic control device is connected thereto through the medium of a nipple 2 or any other appropriate connection. `This -connection 2 constitutes a part :of a novel casting which is molded to provide a lsubstantially angularly disposed cylindrical portion 3 (see Fig. 3) `at .the opposite ends of which vare enlarged open ended cups '4 and 5 respectively.

Connected-to the intermedi-ate portion of the cylinder 3 is a float chamber orl housing 6. `-Cylinder 5 is closed by a removable cover plate 7 cylinder 4 is closed by a removable plate 8 carrying an extension forming a socket 9, and the float housing has its upper open end covered 'by a closure plate 10. The plate 10 is provided atits centerwith an opening anda tube 11 risesvertically from this, this tube .forming a -cylinder as will be apparent later. ,If desired, the tube may be 'provided with a removable top 12.

Operable within the Yhousing 6 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4,.is an appropriate float 13 having a stem 14 connected therewith and rising therefrom andextending into the tube 11. This stem is provided with a `lower valve 15 and an upper valve 1,6.

A suction controlled valve is slidable within the parts 3 and 4 and 5. Observing Figure 3, it' will be seen that the .shaft comprises pistons 17 and 18. At the centeris a solid portion 19 which titssnugly within the vcylinder 3 and normally closes lthe pointv of communication with the pipe 1. -On opposite .sides of the portion 19 are grooves 2O and 21 respectively.

It will be observed 'thatacoiled spring -sever'communication with the suction line.

It will be noted from this figure that a reduced neck 23 serves to afford comnnnunication between the loat chamber and the pipe 1 when the part 19 is moved to one side.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that pipes 24 and 24a each connect with the valve tube 11. 'The pipe 24a is connected at its -opposite end with the connection A2, while the pipe 24 is connected at its Iopposite end with the 4cup 5. When the oat 13 is fullyv seated lto cover the water intake `opening-s 25, the valves 15 and 16 are in a position 'to permit passage of the suction from the pipey l' Normally, this spring serves to through the pipe 24, tube 11 and pipe 24, into the cup 5.

Connected to the tube 11 above the pipe 24 is an additional and similar pipe 2G which extends over and is connected with the cup 4. These cups 4 and 5 actually serve as chambers as is obvious. Observing Fig. 1, it will be seen that a by-pass pipe 27 extends from the connection 2 and is connected with a predetermined portion of the cylinder 3 and an additional by-pass 24 connects with this cylindei` 3 and eX- tends over and around and con'iinunicates with the chamber 4.

Normally, there is a suction created from the main suction pump not shown) through the pipe 1 and small suction pipes 24a, tube 11, and the pipe 24 connected to the head of the piston 17 which, in conjunction with the sp-ring 22, serves to maintain the part 19 closed as shown in Fig. 3. In the event that water collects in the room, it passes upwardly through the opening 25, raising the float 13 and lifting the stein 14 so that suction is created through the by-pass 24a, pipe 26, and in the chamber 4 acting on the piston 18 to overbalance the spring 22 and to bodily slide parts 17 and 19 over to uncover the pipe 1 by bringing the groove 20 opposite the intake end thereof. The piston 18 moves slowly over under the action of the vacuum or suction which has just been created in the chamber.

When the closing of the valve, Ior parts 17 and 19, move to the right, groove 21 establislies communication between the by-pass pipes 27 and 28 and thus maintains the vacuum in cup 4 and keeps the valve open. Otherwise, when the water begins to recede, the communication between pipes 24 and 2G would be broken when valves 15 and 16 begin to descend, destroying vacuum in cup 4, if it were not that groove 21 continued to keep by-pass pipes 27 and 28 in communication with the suction line, maintaining the vacuum i'n cup 4.

As the water recedes, the float moves downwardly moving the valves 15 and 16 to their normal positions, producing suction in the first chamber 5 to act upon valve 17 to place the parts in readiness to close` the valve 19. At this time the suction in the chambers at the opposite ends lof the device is practically of an equal ldegree and the parts are balanced, thus the additional pressure of the spring 22 against the piston 18 serves to overbalance the suction on line side, and thus automatically returns the valve 19 to closed position. If desired, the pipe 24 may be provided with a hand controlled valve 29 as seen in Fig. 1.

It is thought that the foregoing description taken in connection with the accoinpanying drawings, will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore, a more lengthy description is deemed unnecessary.

Attention, however, is called to the following features: i

The provision of the improved automatic valve permits a practical substitution to be made for expensive check valves, the gate and globe valves now frequently used upon suction lines. The improved automatic valve possesses all of the necessary requirements for a device which will effectively accomplish the results sought. A single attendant can care for a multiplicity of these valves, thus obviating the employment of numerous persons as has heretofore been necessary.

The device makes for greater eificiency in operation of the pump by preventing the running of a steam pump for instance upon air from acondition frequent-ly encountered with the present forms of valves. The improved device permits the :so-called rooms to be kept substantially diy at all times, permitting the miner to eihciently clean his coal and entirely eliminating undesirable trouble experienced in cold weather when wet coal is dumped over the tipple; the wet coal standing in the mine paths, freezing and requiring transportation to some warmer part to thaw out.

Furthermore, by automatically draining the water from the room in rapid succession and under the automatic operation permitted, softening of the Hoor and upheavel of the ground, causing breakage in timber, and falling of the roof, is prohibited.

There are of course other features and advantages obvious to those skilled in the art and these need not be enumerated. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and specifically described, it is to be understood that changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a struct-ure of the class described, an open ended cylinder, a valve slidable in said cylinder, suction chambers at the opposite ends of said cylinder, suction operated pistons connected with Said valve and recipi'ocable in said cylinder, a suction line connected with said cylinder, a float chamber connected with said cylinder, a float operable in said chamber, a valve carried by said iioat, and suction by-pass pipes affording automatically controlled suction for said chambers.

2. In a structure of the class described, an open ended cylinder provided at its opposite ends with open cups, closures for said cups forming piston chambers at the ends of said cylinders, a suction supply pipe nipple connected With the intermediate portion of the cylinder, a float housing having' a conducting neck connected With the intermediate portion of the cylinder, a valve slidable in said cylinder for simultaneously cont-rollingthe passage 'of fluid through said neck and nipple, pistons connected to said Valves, spaced therefrom and movable inv said chambers, a tube rising from said oat. 10 housing, a float in said housing, a stem carried by said float, Valves carried by said stem, and suction pipes connected With said tube and controlled by said last named Valves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

OLIVER H. ROHRIG. 

